Firefighters, planes combat fire in West Bank woods near evacuated settlement, Highway 60 closed

A wildfire has broken out in the woods near the settlement of Afeka, located south of the Hebron Hills in the West Bank. Firefighting teams and aircraft are actively working to contain the blaze, which prompted the evacuation of Afeka residents as a precautionary measure.

The Israel Police have closed Highway 60 to facilitate the firefighting operations and are urging the public to avoid the area. The Israel Fire and Rescue Authority expressed concerns that the fire could reach the settlement due to prevailing winds. In response, four firefighting aircraft from the 'Elad' squadron have been dispatched to the scene, alongside additional ground teams.

Reshef Liran Ben-Rasah, the shift commander, ordered the deployment of resources after assessing the situation. Preliminary reports indicate the fire is spreading rapidly, with the primary focus on preventing it from reaching the settlement. This incident follows a pattern of wildfires reported in the West Bank earlier this month, including one near the Beit Dror settlement.

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In my assessment of the situation, I ordered the dispatch of firefighting aircraft from the 'Elad' squadron, in addition to the dispatch of additional teams to the scene of the incident.